Dowry(N°29,Spring 2016) “O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Our Most Gracious Queen and Mother, Look Down in Mercy Upon England Thy Dowry.” (Cardinal Wiseman)

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Dowry(N°29,Spring 2016) “O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gracious Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy Dowry.” (Cardinal Wiseman)

In this issue:

Editorial: “Jewel in the Dowry Appeal” He gave England hope and glory Forthcoming events Light the Beacons! Matters financial Support our apostolate

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (N°29, Spring 2016)

Editorial: “Jewel in the Dowry Appeal”

ent is upon us! To think that it is already one year price for a middle-size house in Greater since we received the sacred ashes: “Remember, London. It is a lot of money for most of L man, that you are dust and that to dust you shall our readers. But some of you may be return”. In Lent we give alms. You will have already able to contribute significantly through received flyers from various charities. Some will ask direct donations or bequests; or you may your help on behalf of the homeless; some for unborn know people who would like to invest in children; others for persecuted Christians. This year, we this exceptional undertaking. We need ask for your help for the Church in need in... England. you. We need them.

Not that we have found the perfect solution to solve all There was no Extraordinary Form group at St Mary’s. her problems at once. But as we well know, the Holy But nearly all the congregation have taken to the EF Sacrifice of the Mass is Salvation re-enacted; it is the Mass, shifting overnight from English to Latin (although saving merits of Christ applied anew upon the altar of a we provide English translations) and their celebrant from church. This year then, we ask your help for a church, in versus populum to versus Deum. Their genuine piety led England. Yes, there still are many churches in England, them to trust in what the Archbishop and the Church thank God, including some near you, where dedicated were offering them through our EF ministry. We are clergy serve your needs. A few of them do so according deeply honoured by their confidence and encouraged by to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, their support. When they see the relatively young age of occasionally or mostly. the three of us FSSP clergy at Warrington; when we

In God’s mercy, the church we are referring to sets an request their prayers for eleven young men coming to important precedent in Our Lady’s Dowry as 1) legally attend a weekend of vocational discernment at St Mary’s owned and 2) exclusively served by Extraordinary Form – our congregation sees clearly that our traditional charism bears good fruit for the future, thank God. clergy, 3) with a permanent mandate from an Archbishop to answer the needs of all those who ask, Holy Mass is offered at St Mary’s every day without restriction. Such stability is an without exception (twice a day on Sundays answer to your prayers and sacrifices, and and main feasts), with Confessions heard an encouragement for many clergy and Such stability thirty minutes before every Mass, in laity. is an answer response to Pope Francis’ call to confessors

Endowed with a renowned choir, St Mary’s to your prayers in this Year of Mercy. Eucharistic adoration takes place every Saturday from 10am to Warrington is a Pugin jewel (front cover and sacrifices picture and next page). It is canonically 12noon and Holy Rosary is prayed every day. established as a shrine and chaplaincy, conveniently located in the town centre and A first bulk order of thirty traditional hand easily reached by rail and road (under half an hour from missals was sent, not to mention the many CTS and LMS both Liverpool and Manchester). The local Parish Priest booklets available in the pews. Every day, an average of is supportive and the diocesan clergy friendly. forty people attends our Mass, and 140 on Sundays. With 380 worshippers at Holy Mass every week after only two With ten men from England and Wales preparing for the months, St Mary’s is already home to one of the largest priesthood with our Fraternity, we should have no regular Extraordinary Form congregations in Britain. problem staffing St Mary’s. But we have real problems Please make it last and succeed. Make it grow and heating, insuring, and maintaining the church. spread. Make this jewel shine bright in Our Lady’s Furthermore, we won’t be able to feed, clothe and care Dowry. Make history: support the “Jewel in the Dowry for our clergy unless assistance comes to us from further Appeal”. This is happening now. afield. Why is that? In these first days of Lent, we recall that the ashes on our Formerly, a capital attached to St Mary’s provided a heads are made out of the burned branches of Palm regular income to maintain the church, the priory and Sunday last year. In a way, this mirrors the loss of faith in support its clergy. This capital was not part of the our formerly Catholic country. But in reaction, more than transaction that made us owners of St Mary’s. once in England’s rich history, spring succeeded winter. Consequently, we have no stable income; but we have With God’s grace and with our shared impetus, may regular costs to meet. Our daily collection covers less those ashes come back to life and produce foliage for us than a third of the actual costs. In brief, we need £1,000 and our children to wave at the Saviour as He walks upon more per week, or £52,000 more per year. The Bursar of this pleasant land, once His Mother’s Dowry: Hosanna to our Fraternity in England, Fr Matthew Goddard, will give

the Son of Mary! you figures in a separate article.

We pray that some benefactors will rebuild the much Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP needed one-million-pound capital, granting this important Superior of the English FSSP Apostolate, venture financial stability. One million pounds is the St Mary’s Priory, Warrington, Lent 2016 □

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (N°29, Spring 2016)

He gave England hope and glory

Sir Edward Elgar, organist and liturgical composer, by Fr Ian Verrier, FSSP.

his is not the description one readily calls to mind works, beginning with his three motets Op. 2 (1887) for when the name “Elgar” is uttered. Regarded as the four-part choir (Ave verum corpus, Ave Maria and Ave T essential Edwardian English composer whose Maris Stella), followed by a setting of Ecce Sacerdos salon pieces and orchestral largos could be described as Magnus for the entry of the Bishop on an official visit to the English countryside in sound. Most famous these St. George’s in 1888, all four of which may still be heard days for composing such English patriotic classics as the sung by choirs today. In fact, Colonie Fra Angelico, a five Pomp and Circumstance Marches (Op. 39 1901- musical summer camp for children between the ages of 1930, the 1st of which includes the renowned “Land of 10 and 17 held in La Brède, near Bordeaux, France and Hope and Glory” section), it is less known that Elgar run by the FSSP have sung the first two of these motets wrote works for use in the Catholic liturgy. in recent years. This shows that even in France, Elgar’s Catholic liturgical music can be heard alongside the great Edward Elgar was born in the small village of Lower French repertoire. Broadheath, outside Worcester, England. His father, William Henry Elgar (1821–1906), was raised in Dover One often hears of the venerable “Low Mass” tradition of and had been apprenticed to a London music publisher. English Catholicism during the dangerous and heroic In 1841 William moved to Penal Times but we should not Worcester, where he worked as neglect England’s Catholic a piano tuner and set up a shop choral and organ tradition that selling sheet music and musical includes more than the great instruments. So music was in composers of the 16th century. the Elgar blood. William Elgar was a violinist of good repute Edward Elgar wrote an Organ as well as a church organist as Sonata in D in 1895. He we shall see below. In 1848 decided on a four movement William married Ann sonata. The four movements Greening, daughter of a farm are: I. Allegro maestoso; II. worker. Edward was the fourth Allegretto; III. Andanto of their seven children. espressivo; IV. Presto (comodo). Importantly Ann Elgar had converted to Roman The 1st and 4th movements Catholicism shortly before follow the classic sonata form, Edward’s birth, and he was whilst movements 2 and 3 are baptised and brought up as a in a three-part A-B-A form. Roman Catholic, apparently to the disapproval of his Michael Kennedy in his 1987 Portrait of Elgar, observes father. This having been said, a Wikipedia citation of the that to play the finale successfully, the organist needs to Musical Times 1900 reports that it was at William’s be a mental and physical athlete. It was first performed instigation that Mass settings composed by Cherubini and by the Worcester Cathedral organist, Hugh Blair, on 8th Hummel were first heard at the Three Choirs Festival by July 1895. The work was dedicated to Elgar’s friend and the orchestra in which he played the violin. fellow-musician Charles Swinnerton Heap (1847-1900).

All of Edward’s siblings received a musical upbringing Knighted in 1904, Sir Edward Elgar was possibly and Edward was no exception. At the age of eight he influenced by the Parisian Catholic organist, Camille began piano and violin lessons. Edward’s father tuned the Saint-Saëns whom Elgar heard play at the Madeleine pianos at many reputable houses in Worcestershire and Church in Paris. The organ here is much bigger than the often took him along in order to showcase his skill to one at St Georges Worcester. One can imagine the important local figures. delight and inspiration that Elgar would have drawn from hearing this master improviser and composer play the Edward’s determining exposure to the organ was in the beautiful 4-manual Cavaillé-Coll organ in this church. Catholic liturgy which ironically was thanks to his The world famous warm symphonic sound of these Anglican father who held the post of organist of St. superlative organs built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll lends George’s Roman Catholic Church, Worcester, from 1846 itself very well to Elgar’s full palette, just as it does to to 1885. For some years Edward was assistant organist to composers such as Alexandre Guilmant, César Franck his father and succeeded him for four years from 1885. and Charles-Marie Widor, to name but three. During this period Elgar wrote his first Catholic liturgical

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (N°29, Spring 2016)

Settings of O Salutaris Hostia, Tantum Ergo, Ave Maris contemporary Catholic composers, singers and organists. Stella and the Angelus are just some of the many Latin Let us pray for the repose of the soul of Edward Elgar: a motets for the liturgy that Elgar wrote. Perhaps Elgar’s Roman Catholic, an Englishman and musician. May he most famous Catholic work is not so much a liturgical rest in peace. work but an oratorio called The Dream of Gerontius. Roman Catholic Elgar set to music the poem by Blessed A professional organist, Fr Verrier holds a Bachelor of John Henry Cardinal Newman about the death and Music Honours degree from The University of redemption of a sinner. Though it was and still is highly Birmingham and a Post Graduate Certificate in regarded as a musical composition, prominent Anglican Performance (cello) from the Royal Northern College of musicians were sadly rude about its Catholic text and Music in Manchester. He also did a Post Graduate meaning. Certificate of Education (with specialist string instrument teaching) from both the Royal Northern College of Music Let us give thanks and make good use of our English and Manchester Metropolitan University (Didsbury Catholic musical and liturgical heritage, and for the fine Campus). □ organs still extant, and pray for and support our

Forthcoming Events

Year of Mercy retreat for the laity 4-6 March 2016 World Youth Day 2016 (20/25-31 July 2016) in by Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP Kraków, Poland, with Juventutem, the international Location: Douai Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Reading network for the sanctification of youth through the RG7 5TQ, Berkshire. Roman traditions of the Church (cf juventutem.org). EVERY enquiry and booking: Fr Finbar, O.S.B., Juventutem has been allocated the Minor Basilica of Sts Guestmaster, Lenten Mercy Retreat, Douai Abbey, Upper Peter and Paul, a beautiful baroque church in the historic Woolhampton, Reading, Berkshire RG7 5TQ, England”. centre of Krakow. Bishop Athanasius Schneider has email: [email protected] • website: agreed to accompany us, and more prelates will attend, as www.douaiabbey.org.uk • Tel: 0118 9715 399 well as many clergy. Contact: [email protected]

Year of Mercy retreat for clergy 2-6 May 2016 First Mass of Fr James Mawdsley, FSSP: St Mary’s by Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP Warrington, Sunday 10th July 2016, 11AM. All are For diocesan and religious priests, deacons and welcome to attend and support the newly ordained priest. seminarians, led on the theme: “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy”. Summer Camps: We plan two Summer Camps, Cost: £249 (all inclusive for 5 days and 4 nights: including our first Camp for girls in the United Kingdom. Monday afternoon to Friday afternoon; full board in The latter option requires adult women volunteering as modern single rooms with en-suite bathroom + team leaders. Any young woman of approximately 18 to conference room + organisation fees + preaching). 35 years of age, interested in helping us next Summer, is Not included: transportation. cordially invited to contact us. Travel with us as a group: Luton to Zurich. Same flight St Peter’s Summer Camp for Boys: 29 July – 3 August as last year, same airline, same airports. As usual, a coach St Petronilla’s Summer Camp for Girls: 9 - 13 August will drive us from the Airport terminal to the Retreat Centre and return. Mon, 2 May• 13:20 – 16:00• London (LTN) – Zürich (ZRH) • Easyjet 2045 • Economy Class • Airbus A319 Below average legroom (74 cm) • 1h 40m. Fri, 6 May• 16:35 – 17:20• Zürich (ZRH) – London (LTN) • Easyjet 2046 • Economy Class • Airbus A319 Below average legroom (74 cm) • 1h 45m. Please book your flight separately. Address: Pilgerheim Sankt Josef, Kirchstraße 18, D- 88145, Wigratzbad, Germany • www.gebetsstaette.de/. In order to keep the cost as low as possible for the Booking: Please send your Name-Surname-Address- families concerned, our Fraternity has heavily subsidised Telephone-Email with your £100.00 deposit cheque the last two camps. Owing, however, to a large increase made payable to FSSP ENGLAND to: Clergy Retreat, St in numbers, we need dedicated sponsors for next Mary’s Priory, Smith Street, Warrington WA1 2NS, Summer. Please contact Fr Goddard, our Bursar, if you Cheshire, England. can donate funds for our Summer Camps in 2016. Please Email Fr de Malleray now at [email protected] for any also pray for the preparatory work. Thank you for your enquiry. □ support to Catholic families. □

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (N°29, Spring 2016)

Light the Beacons!

Homily pronounced by Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP at the First Solemn High Mass in England of Fr Ian Verrier, FSSP at St James’ Church in London on 20th June 2015.

ear newly ordained Fr Verrier, Just give up! It is all lost. Go D and hide. We are vanquished. Christianity is over. Our time is gone. Anyone with eyes to see will agree. Greater than waves, tsunamis rather surge against life, against common sense, against freedom and against innocence! See the crimson tide of abortion; the green tide of Islam; the pink tide of inversion; the black tide of pornography; and as a deadly mix of all others, the fluorescent tide of political correctness.

Coming fast upon us, down those evil waves, like mighty hordes of surfers, the enemy conquers our parliaments; our tribunals; our universities; our media; our hospitals; our barracks; our schools; our Section’. That little group of volunteers walks at the very workplaces; our bakeries; even our homes – and what of end of the one-mile-long column. After the ten thousand our churches? No one is there to protect us. Our martyrs pilgrims have walked through fields and woods, that are long gone. Our confessors and doctors are dumb. Our lowly party follows. After the ten thousand pilgrims have virgins are mocked. Our leaders are shy or unsure. And gone. We remember what an amazing sight those we... We are weak. We are selfish. We are lazy. We are thousands were – now vanished as a dream! And the afraid. small Cleaning Section closes the column, dutifully picking up any paper, any empty cans or wrappers (or Dear Fr Verrier, more than once you crossed the Channel occasionally rosary beads) fallen from the pilgrims’ with many English pilgrims, to take part in the annual hands. What is the ambition of the Cleaning Section? It is Pilgrimage of Christendom. You admired the glorious to leave the place neat and tidy, when the tiny silhouette procession assorted in hundreds of chapters, each of the last Catholic will have shrunk down to the size of a carrying its embroidered banner with its local saint and dot on the grey horizon. The Cleaning Section prides its shining cross, singing canticles along the 70-mile itself on leaving no trace behind: no one would ever hallowed path to the medieval shrine of Chartres! guess that a Catholic army once boldly trod across that road. What you may have missed, however, is the ‘Cleaning Catholics worldwide in 2015, those with eyes to see, feel very much like the Cleaning Section. We see our parishes merged, our churches shut down, our seminaries, convents and noviciates sold to developers, our schools decatholicised. We quietly withdraw. Even as we die, we must be careful not to rock the boat. Let us vanish in a gentlemanly way, as the world smiles at us: “Farewell, miserable rearguard, and good riddance!” So, should we not give up? Should we not give in?

No. That was the horizontal vision, not the transcendent one. It was what the flesh tells us – not the faith. Fr Verrier, you would not be sitting in our midst as Celebrant; you

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (N°29, Spring 2016) would not soon Setim two men, to spy stand at the altar to secretly: and said to them: offer the Holy Go, and view the land and Sacrifice, if you the city of Jericho. They shared that went and entered into the deceptive vision. house of a woman that Dear friends, if we was a harlot named adhered to it Rahab, and lodged with ourselves, we must her” (cf Joshua 2). have misplaced our supernatural As the spies found refuge glasses. When we in the house of the find them again – prostitute Rahab, who our proper faith was spared for her faith glasses; when we when Jericho fell, in our focus on what turn we spread the Good escapes our eyes News among alien folk. of flesh but not our souls – this is what we will see. What We mark those of good will with the sign of the Lord, so indeed, do you ask? that they may be saved, when the army will take possession of the land. We are the emissaries of the We will see that we belong to One Who has already won liberation forces. We have but little time to enrol as many the battle on our behalf. It was on Good Friday, on as will trust in the Word Who sent us, and Who guides us Mount Golgotha. He is our Head and we are His mystical daily. Body, the Church. He is our Head, in Latin ‘caput’, whence also ‘captain’. And our Captain will soon return, What are we? We are not agents of subversion, because visibly. The end of time is near, for Him to Whom one evil is chaos and the peace we bring is the tranquillity of thousand years are like a day. order. We are the spies of love, under the nose of hatred. We are busy smuggling mercy. We plot freedom. We We belong to His Church, spread across time even more inject grace. Weak and few as we may seem, we rely on powerfully than across space. Here below, we only see apocalyptic backup in heaven. Angels and saints listen to the Militant or Pilgrim fringe of His Church: with a mere us, poor pilgrims across our vale of tears. When our 1.2 billion known. But much more numerous and helpful knees touch the ground below, one million hands join in are the suffering souls in Purgatory, who are already holy prayer on high. When our hands join in prayer below, one and will intercede for us when their purification is ended. billion wings spread above to shield us. Such is the In Heaven now, without interruption, billions of saints Communion of saints. All the baptised partake in this and trillions of holy angels petition on our behalf the wondrous power. All of us are spies of the Great King adorable Trinity, led in intercession by the Most Holy on-high, preparing His people for the liberation to come. Mother of God. Such is, dear friends, our shared mandate through Holy Baptism. Such is our brotherly pride. With them, we are Christ’s holy army. We are still on earth, yes. But we are not forgotten: we are sent. We are But the King our Captain has willed to imprint special not lagging behind: powers in selected we are scouting out. agents. He has made We are not the them head-spies, rearguard: we are the associate captains and vanguard! We are the chief forerunners of Lord’s gentle spies. His final advent. Who are those, you ask? Spies? Indeed! You should know. Remember how, in They are here. They the Old Testament, live amongst us. They after forty years of are the priests. The wandering in the priests of God. Our desert, Joshua sent priests. spies to reconnoitre the Promised Land, Leaving seminary like ahead of the Hebrew Fr Verrier a fortnight army, still encamped ago, on the day of east of the River their ordination they Jordan: “Josue the son jump in the dark, of Nun sent from through the night of

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (N°29, Spring 2016) sinful worldliness. They land behind enemy lines: not at random, but to targets assigned by Chief Command (i.e. the Holy See and our shepherds the bishops). They are thoroughly trained in the arts of God’s grace. And what do you think is their first action once landed, and their last? They light the beacons! They activate a signal of infinite magnitude: the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Such is the command they received from Christ Himself: “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49-53).

At each Holy Mass, the priest acts in persona Christi. He lets the divine Captain communicate His own infinite merits to all of us sinners. Out of the tyranny of the devil, the Prince of this World, wounded souls are drawn into the It is God’s will that all should be saved. To that end, our Eucharistic light. Shivering souls are led to the warmth of divine Captain demands priests. With trembling then, but the Eucharistic Fire. From on-high, the liberation army with joy, today I call in His name. I call for priests. I call observes the radiance beaming from every altar on earth. for holy sacrificers to offer in Persona Christi not “the Just as on a clear summer night we look up at the stars blood of goats and calves” (Hebrews 9:12) but that of the and wish we were there – reciprocally, from on-high Immaculate Lamb. I call for men. I call for associate saints and angels look downwards at the constellation of captains. I call for God’s commandos. But note that I am Masses across our dark world, and soon they will be here, not calling for supermen. I am not calling for geniuses visibly. and heroes, as if natural skills could suffice for such a sacred enterprise. Before desiring any particular skills, I When the King’s armies enter the land, on the days of am calling for those Whom Christ destines to be wrath, those found within the Eucharistic shelters will be configured to Him: “meek and humble of heart”. spared. Like the prostitute Rahab, they will have life, on account of their faith and good works. But as we examine Listen to me then, men; future men of God. Your training our conscience, we admit that even lovers of the will be gradual, brotherly, deep, and rewarding. Your Eucharist need guidance and encouragement! And those weapons will be humility; prayer; joy; knowledge; purity; still alien to the Eucharist need witnesses and teachers. trust in God; good humour; discipline; endurance and Hence I ask you: where will we find such men? fraternity. Soon enough, you will be airborne. After takeoff and a seven-year flight, you will jump in the

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (N°29, Spring 2016) darkness of the world, like Fr Verrier just a fortnight ago. and have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered once a You will fly with the parachute of grace and, landing year for vocations. In return, you can gain special according to plan, you will light the beacons. You will indulgences and also be supported by the prayers of our offer Holy Mass: “Introibo ad altare Dei!” 160 seminarians and of our 250 priests. Every day, thirteen Holy Masses are offered specifically for the On the occasion of this First Solemn High Mass of our intentions of the 4,900 members of the Confraternity and newly ordained priest back in England, I say to you, dear for our vocations. young men: Come undercover! Come underground, as God’s secret emissaries! Come and exfiltrate souls from In conclusion dear friends, let us renew our commitment the entanglements of sin! Come and increase the number as the gentle spies of Christ. Let us put on our of the elect, through the fecundity of God’s grace. Do supernatural glasses and focus on what escapes the eyes you wish you could reply “yes,” but do you still also feel of our body but not those of our soul! Let us walk weak? Then listen to the great Apostle St Paul, the bravely, even amidst the flames of vice, witnessing God’s Doctor of the Nations, listen to what God told him: “My sanctity. Let us light up and make known the Eucharistic grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in beacons, casting away the shadows of despair. Let us not infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, rely on our skills, for we are useless servants but, poorly that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Co 12:19). or richly endowed, let us do our utmost and God will Men, come: join the vanguard. grant victory! Though we are but a few scattered emissaries... – across the river Jordan, on the other side of There are many ways to train God’s captains. The time, the formidable armies of God are on the move! Priestly Fraternity of St Peter is a small and imperfect tool. We ordain Look! See the a mere twelve celestial legions priests a year of England and worldwide. This of Wales! See year, we have how they watch ordained fifteen. our humble In England, up scouting, while to last week, we with our feeble were but two hands we mark priests in one God’s elect. See house. Not quite the mighty enough to make officers on- hell tremble! high, about to But through set foot across God’s mercy the water and and through lead their your prayers, in battalions down the last dozen to our earthly years we have shores. See ordained seven priests from this country: Fr Konrad Alban and Augustine! See Bede and Cuthbert! See Chad, Loewenstein in 2002; Fr Brendan Gerard in 2006; Frs Hugh and Thomas! The end is near. They are coming! Matthew Goddard and William Barker in 2009; Fr Simon See Winifred and Ethelreda! See Simon Stock the Harkins in 2010; Fr Matthew McCarthy in 2011 and Fr gracious Carmelite! Hold the line, they are on their way! Ian Verrier this month. See the Pearl of York, Margaret Clitherow; and Margaret Pole, both saintly mothers of priests! Stand your ground, In addition, we have ten seminarians from England and they are here! See John Fisher and Thomas More, the Wales beginning or continuing their studies at our two columns of faithful England! See Campion and Mayne, international seminaries in Bavaria and Nebraska. This the gallant missionaries! See John Henry Newman and gives reasonable hopes for one new deacon and one new Dominic Barberi! priest from England and Wales ordained every year in the forthcoming years. Every year then, one more priest from But most of all, look at the fair one, awaiting the return of this country and one more deacon. What a grace! What a Her Dowry to Her, for Her Son’s glory: watch the sign! What a reward! Already, two of them are now Mother of God, the Most pure and chaste, our Mother serving in England. We will send more, if they are through grace. “Thou art beautiful, O my love, sweet and wanted here. comely as Jerusalem: terrible as an army set in array” (Cant. 6:3). On our behalf, almightily, She begs. Under Please consider making your prayer for vocations even Her queenship, let us toil gladly and prepare the coming more fruitful through our prayer network, the of Her Son, Jesus, the Prince of peace. He is on the move Confraternity of Saint Peter. You only need to pray daily with His armies. He is coming to rescue us. He is here: one decade of the Rosary, recite one prayer for vocations Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi! □

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (N°29, Spring 2016)

Matters financial

By Fr Matthew Goddard, FSSP – Bursar of the FSSP England Apostolate

n this edition of Dowry I write wearing my ‘Bursar’s the east end of the sanctuary is still in position, the high hat’, to give you a report on the acquisition of St altar of the church has unfortunately been removed. The I Mary’s Church, Warrington, and an overview of the altar currently being used is a wooden structure sitting on financial position of our charity, FSSP England. a raised, carpeted platform, not in the sanctuary but rather the church’s chancel! There is no adequate sacristy – the Can I start by thanking so many of you for the significant original sacristy is now the choir rehearsal room, which is contributions you made to our seminary campaign, also needed to house the choir’s extensive musical ‘Labourers for the Vineyard.’ I am pleased to inform you repertoire. Furthermore, the ‘cloister’ – a long narrow that since its commencement in July 2013, the campaign corridor running down the north side of the church generated a total of £33,595.29. This has gone a long way building – badly needs to be rebuilt to create a towards funding the studies of our ten English comfortable hall with upgraded toilet & kitchen facilities. seminarians. As we rejoice that God has continued to Likewise, the church narthex has not been touched for bless our Fraternity with English vocations, so we thank many years and could do with updating to produce a Him, also, for our new apostolate in Warrington, located well-lit, welcoming entrance, which could also serve as a at the fine Pugin church of St Mary’s. Deo volente, it will ‘cry room’ for parents with unsettled young children. be the first of many! The process Then, there is the organ, which of acquisition resembled that of desperately needs either an buying a house, though in this expensive rebuild or replacing! case there was no price to be We believe that we stand a good paid. Upon completion, on 11 chance of attracting charitable November, FSSP England funding from English Heritage, formally became the freehold the National Lottery or other owner. funding streams for some of these projects. St Mary’s Church is not only a beautiful and culturally Due to an endowment, over the significant building, but just past few years we have managed importantly – thanks to to save some money. We were Ampleforth Abbey – it is advised by a diocesan Director of essentially in good repair! Every Finance that we should ring- Catholic church building in this fence this money for the care of country has to be professionally our future sick and frail priests. surveyed once every five years, We have been reliably informed from which quinquennial reports that what we have is a are written – ‘quinquennial’ from comfortable start to this fund, but the Latin word for five, quinque. The last quinquennial no more than a start! We have these savings, plus a report on St Mary’s Church, written in September 2012, sizeable chunk of the restricted funds mentioned earlier, identifies repairs and maintenance work to the Church invested in a low-risk ‘investment organ’ run, according totalling an estimated £82,730, of which about £17,100 to Catholic ethical principles. They will hopefully has already undertaken over the past two years. The continue to generate an increase, for while our English report on the Priory – a detached residence built next to priests and seminarians are all relatively young, there will the Church in 1988 – identifies a further £31,175 of inevitably come a point when this will not be the case… necessary work. In addition, work also needs to be and of course we are hoping for a good few more than undertaken on the church heating plant, on some lighting three priests working in England and Wales in years to circuits and around fire safety. We are fortunate that as come! part of the settlement with Ampleforth, a payment was received totalling £140,000 as contributions towards You may be thinking that this all sounds very positive, these identified works. These funds, known as ‘restricted and indeed it is! But… Yes, there is a ‘but’ - and a fairly funds,’ were given on the strict understanding, binding in sizeable ‘but’ at that! From the perspective of finances law, that they can only be spent on those elements. there is another element related to our new apostolate in Warrington with which we need to seek your assistance. There are other significant projects which it is going to be desirable, if not necessary, to address in the near future. As an important part of the process for the acquisition of For instance, you may have noticed from the photographs St Mary’s, I had to explore its running costs. This was a of the inaugural Mass that, while the splendid reredos at fairly straightforward process, in as much as I was able to

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (N°29, Spring 2016) mix and match elements of the financial statements of the This investment and reserved funds aside, as of the end former St Mary’s Parish with our own charity’s records of 2015 we have about £38,000 in our bank accounts. If of the costs associated with running our Reading we chart the current financial trajectory, even when apostolate with two resident priests. (It is part of the topped up with weekly collection money, this is unlikely charism of the Fraternity that we live in small to last more than a few months. Please keep this matter in communities. St Mary’s would seem to be suited to two your prayers, particularly to St Joseph! priests). To these I added a figure for ongoing repairs and maintenance, estimated When we decided to go ahead with Warrington by our Surveyor. Our estimate for the we knew that we are likely be in for a lean annual running costs of St Mary’s, time for a few years. Our biggest concern is confirmed by our Accountant, is £77,000, that we will not be able to fund our activities to which equates to £1,480 a week. The the same extent that we used to. For instance, weekly offertory collections are, on average, the past two Boys’ Summer Camps were a little over £400 a week. This is the ‘but’: heavily subsidised – to the tune of several we are short by about £1000 a week - thousand pounds – by our charity. We saw this £52,000 a year! Consequently, we Fraternity as important. Many of our married couples clergy working in England are on a steep make big sacrifices to be open to life; and learning curve when it comes to living having large families can often mean not according to these new financial realities. having much in the way of disposable income Up until November, with just our Reading for such activities. But, for the time being we and Chesham Bois apostolates (which are are going to have to look for benefactors to without their own independently owned church cover the basic costs of future camps as our charity buildings), finances were not too much of a concern. All simply cannot afford it. this has now changed! In the spiritual life we often speak of ‘grace building on Clearly, these are early days for our Warrington nature’, by which we mean that the effects of God’s apostolate. It is very positive that the Mass attendance at grace do not obliterate nature, but rather elevate it. We St Mary’s has remained much as it was before we took are created with free will, and it is important to ensure over – about 140 on a Sunday and 30 to 40 at weekday that we engage our intellect and will to ensure that we are Masses. But there is much work to be done in building receptive to grace. God requires this cooperation on our things up. While we are blessed with a dedicated and part when it comes to our sanctification. It is similar talented team of clergy at St Mary’s, we estimate that it is when it comes to building up an apostolic endeavour: it is likely to take at least three years before things are really God’s work, but He requires our assistance. In this case, settled. This is why we launch in this issue of our He hears our prayers and sees the sacrifices we make, magazine the much needed while using us as “Jewel in the Dowry Appeal” secondary instruments (where Jewel refers to St when it comes to funding. Mary’s and Dowry to Finances might seem a England). very ‘worldly’ element, but since money is a Parishioners in our primary means by which apostolates in Reading and we make material Chesham Bois may well be progress, it is no surprise wondering how their that over the Church’s apostolates are fairing history the success and financially. We used to failure of apostolic comfortably manage on the ventures have often weekly offertory collection depended to a large extent money, the rent money from on money! a house bequeathed to us locally by former Community Please give thought and member, Anne Read, RIP (cf picture), and then donations prayer to what I have outlined. Can you help us, please? received from generous benefactors based elsewhere in We need that additional £52,000 a year for the time the country. Those donations are now very much needed being, so that there are no hindrances to our growth and elsewhere, and we are having to live without them. So, new ventures elsewhere. While the Fraternity is an there’s good news and bad news! The bad news is that international society, nonetheless we do not have funds to we are short. The good news is that in the South – draw from outside of the United Kingdom. If your own unexpected major expenditure aside – we are only short circumstances do not permit you to support us by up to £2,000 a year. I have every confidence that we financially, then perhaps some of your friends might can work together to cover this shortfall. help. In any case, please remember this in your prayers. May God reward your generosity! □

Dowry – Catholic periodical by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (N°29, Spring 2016)

Support our apostolate

elp us run St Mary’s Shrine and fund our ministry in England. To make it simpler, please use our FSSP England bank account details below, only specifying the H purpose if you wish. For example:

To donate to our ‘Jewel in the Dowry Appeal’: To donate to our forthcoming Summer Camps: a. Please make the cheque or bank transfer a. Please make the cheque or bank transfer payable to ‘FSSP ENGLAND’; payable to ‘FSSP ENGLAND’; b. Write ‘Jewel’ on the back of your cheque b. Write ‘Camps’ on the back of your cheque or in the bank transfer reference. or in your bank transfer reference.

Any cheque or bank transfer to FSSP ENGLAND not bearing mention of a specific purpose will be used by us according to our more urgent needs. May God reward your generosity this Lent and Easter!

Account Name: FSSP England Account number: 02027225 Sort code 30-93-04 Lloyds Bank, Palmerston Road Branch

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Please note that FSSP England’s new centre for Dowry, administration and donations is St Mary’s Shrine, Warrington. Please send your cheques, Gift Aid forms and

any other financial correspondence to St Fr Ian Verrier, FSSP Mary’s Shrine Secretary who is also our new Gift Aid Officer: Mrs Jane Wright. organising the Christmas presents FSSP ENGLAND is a registered charity: from the 'Christmas number 1129964. in a Box' appeal our

Reading Community New MAIN ADDRESS for FSSP ENGLAND: supported.

Reading Apostolate Address Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, St Mary’s Priory, Smith Street, (no longer used for Dowry donations and Gift Aid): Warrington WA1 2NS Cheshire, England Priestly Fraternity of St Peter, St John Fisher House, 17 Eastern Avenue, Reading, RG1 5RU, Berks. Tel.: 01925 635 664 Tel.: 0118 966 5284

Fr de Malleray: [email protected] Fr Goddard: [email protected] Deacon Mawdsley: [email protected] Fr Verrier: [email protected] Marcus Williams: [email protected] Find us online: Mrs Jane Wright (Shrine Secretary & FSSP Gift Aid Officer): [email protected] www.facebook.com/fssp